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Our College has a heritage listed chapel, well resourced classrooms, modern computer lab and separate primary and secondary school libraries. The College also features a multi-purpose centre, which is used for College assemblies, gym and functions. By choosing to enrol your child in a Maronite Catholic School, you have affirmed your belief in the basic values of Christian education. We wish to share with you the joys of helping your child develop his/her own potential in the Christian atmosphere of both school and home. It is important that parents, as the first educators of their children, foster their child’s faith development by praying with them as a family and by participating in the life of the Church. It is vital that the school compliments the home in the education of your child. It is therefore important that you take an active interest in your child and their educational welfare. As a school we have many opportunities to keep you informed of current educational trends. Parent interviews, Sacramental meetings, Parent gatherings, Newsletters and other letters are important avenues of communication between the school and home. They will keep you abreast of what is happening and when and where your attendance at various times throughout the school year is required. We ask for your co-operation and support in this task of engaging your child in an educational process that is enjoyable, successful and rich in experiences. SCHOOL HOURS: 8:00am – 3:05pm (Playground supervision from 8:00am) ASSEMBLY WARNING BELL: 8:40am ASSEMBLY BELL: 8:45am RECESS: 10:35am – 10:55am CLASSES DISMISSED: 3:05pm It is essential that children arrive at school before 8:40am each day, to ensure that they do not miss valuable learning time. State Transit Children in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible for free travel. Children in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 are eligible for a free travel if they reside more than 1.6kms radial distance, away from the school. Forms are available at the school office. School Bus Saint Maroun's provides two school buses for children to be picked up before and after school. The school bus is available to pick up /drop off students from the following areas: Bankstown, Bexley, Greenacre, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Wiley Park. Children who catch one of the buses home, meet at the bus assembly area and are then escorted out and onto the appropriate bus. Please see the office staff if you require this service. Dropping Off And Picking Up Children Before And After School No cars are allowed onto School Grounds at any time, this is for the safety of our students. On Wardell Road there is however a Drop Off and Pick Up Area which we recommend that parents/caregivers use appropriately. Curriculum Learning at Saint Maroun’s is often integrated across several curriculum areas. The school ensures that the teaching programs follow the guidelines set down by the N.S.W. Board of Studies and cover all the curriculum areas. Instruction is given in Religious Education and in the six Key Learning Areas (KLA’S) as designated by the NSW Board of Studies: English, Mathematics, Human Society and Its Environment, Science and Technology, Personal Development / Health / Physical Education, Creative and Practical Arts. At the beginning of each term, an outline of the curriculum for each Key Learning Area (subject) that students will be studying is sent home. If parents / guardians have any questions relating to the curriculum, an appointment with the class teacher can be made. Specialising Teachers Saint Maroun’s has a number of teachers specialising in the following fields: · Arabic · Special Education · English As A Second Language · Computer · Music · Teacher/Librarian · Counsellor Religious Education The Religious Education curriculum acknowledges and supports the parents in their role as the children’s first educators in faith. The curriculum is designed to develop sequentially the individual growth in, and understanding of the wonderment of a faith relationship with God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. Through the curriculum program, To Know, Worship and Love: the children are invited to participate in this faith relationship by learning about the history and traditions of the Catholic Church, the Liturgy, Scriptures and Sacraments. Masses All students in the primary school attend mass on a regular basis. Whole school Masses are also held at the beginning of the school term and at the end of term. Special Feast days are also celebrated as a College such as the Assumption of Mary which is also the Foundation Day for our College. SacramentsReconciliation: Students in Year Two undertake the Sacrament of Reconciliation under the guidance of our parish priest, Sisters and the classroom teachers.First Holy Communion: In Year Three students are invited to participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion. This once again is undertaken under the guidance of our parish priest, Sisters and classroom teachers.Library The Teacher / Librarian is in attendance five days per week. Children from K – 6 have a weekly library lesson. For this purpose they need a school library bag to transport library books to and from school. The library is also open at recess and lunch times for student’s use. Study Skills The primary school librarian also runs study skills classes for the upper primary in an endeavour to prepare students for the changing needs and demands as students prepare to enter high school. English Ants in the Apple: This program is currently being used throughout the primary school. It is an Australian program with a highly effective phonics and phonemic awareness based Reading and Spelling Teaching focus. Students are exposed to the various spelling rules that make up the English language and are given opportunities to apply these to there every day writing. There is also a strong emphasis on grammar and explicitly teaching the various components such as nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, phrases, parsing and punctuation to name but a few. Physical Education At Saint Maroun’s College we know that a healthy mind and body go hand in hand. That is why students in our primary College participate in 2hours of Physical Education per week. Below are some of the sporting activities that our students participate in: Swimming/Swimming Carnival This is a 10-day program in our school year. It is a compulsory component of the school curriculum. This program includes swimming lessons, transport to and from the pool, certificate, entrance to the pool and the swimming carnival. Notes are sent home well in advance of the commencement of this program with the details. This program is generally undertaken at the end of the school year. Athletics CarnivalEvery year our school holds an athletics carnival in which all children participate. Using results from the carnival, students are also selected to participate in the Inner West Regional Athletic Carnival. Gymnastics/Dance ProgramGymnastics/Dance is another component of the school curriculum. Children participate in a ten-day program during the year. It includes gymnastics/dance lessons by external qualified instructors at the school. Gymnastics/Dance works on a two-year cycle. The Internet at our school is an avenue for teachers and students to explore information and develop skills. Our aim at St Maroun’s College is that students in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 use the Internet to develop competency in the following information skills areas:
While the Internet is a very valuable tool, which assists with student learning, there is inappropriate material on the Internet. St Maroun’s College is taking every care to ensure that children are not exposed to the inappropriate material. This is undertaken by constant supervision and the installation of software programs that block exposure to inappropriate websites. Whilst every care is taken to protect students from inappropriate material, no system is 100% reliable. We therefore ask that every student and parent/guardian sign a form before access to the Internet be permitted. Students are asked to pledge not to use the Internet to search for inappropriate material and the parents/guardians are asked to take responsibility for their child’s actions. At the beginning of each year a note is sent home for parents and students to sign. Computer LabStudents at the College have access to a computer lab and have weekly computer lessons lead by our computer teacher. Diary Children in Years 3 to 6 will each receive a diary in which to write their homework. This diary can also be used as a form of communication between teachers and parents or parents and teachers. Newsletter Our school newsletter is printed on green paper for easier recognition and is sent out twice a term. Assessment Folders Towards the end of each term, students will be given their individual assessment folder to take home, which contains samples of work from various Key Learning Areas. Parents are to sight, sign and return these folders to school by the allocated date. Parent Teacher Interviews These interviews are usually for parents / guardians to receive their child’s mid year and end of year report and assessment folder. This gives parents / guardians an opportunity to discuss their child’s progress and other matters. All parent(s) / guardians are expected to make an appointment to attend. Homework Homework is a long-established method of testing student’s ability to recall and extend what has been taught in the classroom, to complete unfinished work or to do research for suggested projects. It is also an opportunity for interaction between parents and children, for parents to see what is being taught in the classroom and to encourage the children to develop good study habits for the future. Parents receive a homework procedure sheet for their child’s class at the beginning of the school year. The recommended time spent on doing homework is: Year 1 10 minutes Year 2 20 minutes Year 3 30 minutes Year 4 40 minutes Year 5 50 minutes Year 6 60 minutes In addition students are encouraged to read daily. Other At various other times throughout the year, the Principal, Deputy Principal, Primary Schooling Coordinator or a teacher may initiate brief communications by note or phone on any matters of pupil progress/attitude. Students Behaviour Management Policy Discipline should be fair, consistent and just. when dealing with behaviour management, the dignity of the child must always be preserved in line with Gospel Values. In order to develop self-discipline in children there must be a respect for the rights of others. All children have the right to learn and all teachers have the right to teach. Children impinging on these rights will be disciplined. At Saint Maroun’s a high standard of conduct is expected. Our Aim At Saint Maroun’s we aim to develop the whole person in an atmosphere where Christian attitudes and values are nurtured, the rights of all individuals are protected and respected, and children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviour. It is the responsibility of the school to provide a comfortable and secure environment where individuals feel safe, valued and respected. Integral to our policy is a commitment to consistent and fair practices that are positive, professional and ethical. “Our belief in the gospel values of justice, forgiveness, love, respect and freedom form the basis of all our dealings with each and the other children placed in our care. We are committed to fostering individuals who are capable of self-direction, of choosing freely, intelligently and responsibly in accordance with their conscience, beliefs and appropriately to the situation.” The aim of the Merit System is to acknowledge and reward the children for particular achievements or behaviour in the following areas:
Once a student has received three merit awards they are then presented with a PRINCIPAL’S AWARD at our next school assembly by the College Principal. To further acknowledge the outstanding performance of these children, their names are printed in the College Newsletter so that they may be recongised by our whole school community. As well as having their name posted in the display cabinet at the front of the school in a star. This is a Kindergarten to Year Six initiative with students receiving a playground token by the teachers on duty: at recess and lunch for positive behaviour. Once a class receives Sixty (60) tokens they are then awarded with an afternoon at the local park. This, not only awards the students for positive playground behaviour but the reward also foster a great enjoyment for physical activity, which is very important. |
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